F I D O N E W S -- Vol.12 No.28 (10-Jul-1995) +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | A newsletter of the | ISSN 1198-4589 Published by: | | FidoNet BBS community | "FidoNews" BBS | | _ | +1-519-570-4176 | | / \ | | | /|oo \ | | | (_| /_) | | | _`@/_ \ _ | | | | | \ \\ | Editors: | | | (*) | \ )) | Donald Tees 1:221/192 | | |__U__| / \// | Sylvia 1:221/194 | | _//|| _\ / | | | (_/(_|(____/ | | | (jm) | Newspapers should have no friends. | | | -- JOSEPH PULITZER | +----------------------------+-----------------------------------------+ | Submission address: editors 1:1/23 | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | MORE addresses: | | | | submissions=> editor@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Don -- don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | | Sylvia max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ | For information, copyrights, article submissions, | | obtaining copies of fidonews or the internet gateway faq | | please refer to the end of this file. | +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ ======================================================================== Table of Contents ======================================================================== 1. Editorial..................................................... 1 2. Articles...................................................... 2 Echomod: An Echo Moderator's Utility........................ 2 Don't miss this opportunity ................................ 4 Disney Images............................................... 5 Backbone Echo Changes [May-Jun]............................. 6 Simple NetwOrk Oversight Protocol........................... 8 3. Fidonews Information.......................................... 8 ======================================================================== Editorial ======================================================================== FidoNews 12-28 Page: 2 10 Jul 1995 Well it had to happen eventually. We arrived back from a sunday afternoon do well after midnight, and we are late with the snooze. This is going out at 3:00 A.M. instead of midnight. If that screws up anybody's delivery, sorry. Here is the snooze. ======================================================================== Articles ======================================================================== Echomod: An Echo Moderator's Utility by Dana Bell ECHOMOD - An Echo Moderator's Utility While some are engaged in legal (or illegal) battles and others are working on getting the FidoNet echolist together, I thought some of you might want to try this little utility. ECHOMOD will allow moderators or appropriate messengers for the echolist, to maintain their own database of echoes from which they can automatically submit updates to either ECHOBASE or the FidoNet-based ELIST. The options here are primarily intended to assist moderators in their duties to keep the echolist up-to-date. It might look like it, but this isn't the manual. It's just seemed to be a good way to show and tell what ECHOMOD is and does. Since the Echolist requirements and products are changing, I'm constantly making changes here to support them. Since it's also a new concept, I'm getting new ideas for it all the time. All that means, of course, is that there is a greater possibility of you finding bugs in the program until everything settles down. If you want to give it a shot, FReq ECHOMOD from someone near you that has it, or from me at 1:3801/6. NOTE: ANSI.SYS is required and (so far) ECHOMOD uses FD style messages. With a little manipulation you might also be able to use it with your BBS program. ECHOMOD Abstract begins here: ECHOMOD CONFIG The ECHOMOD configuration allows you to identify yourself, some paths, and then designate a ListKeeper you want to submit MOD UPDs to. In FidoNet, it would be ECHOLIST at 1:1/201@fidonet.org. Once a configuration file has been created with the ECHOMOD CONFIG command, the primary options that facilitate this are: ADD EDIT SUBMIT to
AUTO POST RULES ELIST FidoNews 12-28 Page: 3 10 Jul 1995 ECHOMOD ADD This command is used to ADD echoes to the database. In additions you will be prompted for each field. Once a conference has been added to the database, you can later edit it with the EDIT command or while in BROWSE mode. ECHOMOD EDIT The EDIT option allows you to make changes in the echo's entry. This will also allow you to update the echo, as well as change the Active Status of the echo. This is also the only way to "change" the areatag of an echo. To edit the Long Description press F4. ECHOMOD SUBMIT to
This is the "magic" of this program. This option will submit the echo to the ECHOLIST as defined in the configuration. This option creates a netmail in the keyword/key information format that can be processed by Echobase or ELIST. The information is taken from the echobase database. If an address is listed on the command-line, the message will be sent to ECHOLIST at that address. Otherwise, the netmail message will be sent to the address specified in the ECHOMOD configuration. A line will be displayed when a submission message has been generated with the message number. You can go to the message to check and/or edit it. Note: Submissions can also be made while in Browse mode, by selecting F3 (update & submit) or F6 (submit). ECHOMOD AUTO This is some more of the magic. When this option is run, ECHOMOD will check the database for echoes that haven't been updated in days, updates them and submits them to the ListKeeper. ECHOMOD POST RULES The post option can be used to post the designated rule file for a conference as a message in that conference. Ideally, the designated file should be a plain text file and should not contain echomail control characters or sequences such as "---", $EEN-BY, etc. ECHOBASE ELIST This is an import function that will convert entries found in (or ELIST.CUT) and in the format of the International Echolist and add them to the database CONVERTS.DAT. This function will convert each entry found, display it and prompt to save and go to next, skip or edit the entry. You can use this to cut your current entry out of the International Echolist and then convert it to use in the database. Of course, this is also a handy way to create a "browse-able" version of the EList. ECHOMOD BROWSE This displays a scrollable list of echoes in the echobase. Select the echo to edit and press enter to edit. When finished editing, the scrollable list will be re-displayed. Press ESC to quit. When in BROWSE mode, you can page through the echoes and edit any that need modifications. Before paging to the next echo, however, you will be prompted to save if anything has been changed. Browse mode will also allow you to SUBMIT an echo by pressing either F3 (update then FidoNews 12-28 Page: 4 10 Jul 1995 submit), or F6 (submit). Other options are also available for the manipulation and maintenance of the database. ECHOMOD DISPLAY ECHOMOD DROP ECHOMOD SORT ECHOMOD PACK ECHOMOD COPY spec / spec = ECHOMOD IMPORT / ECHOMOD TRAFFIC ECHOMOD LIST ^moderator> The current version of ECHOMOD can be FileRequested from Baby Blue BBS at 1:3801/6. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't miss this opportunity ... preface ... I wanted to let you know about a project I'm starting. The Snooze seemed like an appropriate place to announce it, since it's one of the primary sources of inspiration. Also, special thanks go to the Bobs ... Chalmers, Moravsik and Germer in no particular order. so ... here's the drum roll .... ANNOUNCING THE GET A LIFE FOUNDATION A special program created by and for Fidonet Sysops. You can become a member and plankowner in the GET A LIFE foundation by submitting your listing to the Fidonet Phone Book (aka nodelist) before 12/31/95. (Members who submit 3am Christmas morning will receive special consideration for any LIVES which become available.) Membership in the GET A LIFE FOUNDATION offers the following benefits: Your name will be added to the fishbowl for the FOUNDATION's monthly drawing for A LIFE. Access to Inspirational stories of other sysops who GOT LIVES. Photographs and videos of A LIFE are available at a disounted rate to members. GAL members get one free session with a cybertherapist who will make you feel better by reminding you that it's your parent's fault you DON'T HAVE A LIFE. GAL members get one free session with a cybercounselor who will make you feel better by reminding you that it's your spouse's fault you DON'T HAVE A LIFE. GAL members also get a session with our cyberattorney ... who will FidoNews 12-28 Page: 5 10 Jul 1995 charge you $250 for NOT HAVING A LIFE. and many additional benefits, which you will discover as they are dropped on your doorstep. (BTW, sign up before 9/15 and receive a free benefit-scooper!) If by some freak chance, you have aquired A LIFE and are still a member of FIDONET, you will be able to ... Feel good about helping others discover what A LIFE is. Gloat because you HAVE A LIFE. (oops! ... nevermind) If you're not happy with your LIFE, you can donate it to our monthly drawing ... much cheaper than divorcing your wife :) I urge all of you to get your name into the nodelist and GET A LIFE today ... grins. Eileen Turner 1:326/431 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Disney Images by Jerry Schwartz 1:142/928 Disney Images Ha! Fooled you all, this is really about lawsuits! Our Planet Connect downlink went into REM sleep while its master was away for the day, so I have no echomail to read at the moment. Those of you who have read my previous articles here know what that means: I spent an hour catching up on FidoNews, and that has given me an irresistable urge to punish you all with yet another contribution. Actually, Disney images are what I was thinking about. In my youth, the Disney empire (merely a vigorous duchy in those olden times) had a weekly television show which provided a mix of drama, cartoons, nature documentaries, and so forth. One of my most vivid memories is of the time-lapse photography which they often showcased: in a matter of moments you could watch a beehive being constructed, a bird build a nest, or a flower bloom and die. (This was decades before the VCR, which allows anyone with a remote control to see a mountain of fast food bloom and die.) Time-lapse photography provides a remarkable perspective. Imagine what your life would look like if it were compressed into two minutes. If that isn't depressing enough, imagine what two months of FidoNews looks like when similarly compressed. I guess the hot issue is lawsuits. Well, be forewarned that I am NOT a lawyer, nor do I play one in BMW commercials. However I FidoNews 12-28 Page: 6 10 Jul 1995 do, as a matter of prudence, have a $1,000,000 personal liability umbrella policy; so sue me. I'm sure my insurance company can find a decent lawyer: one who knows the meaning of the term "barratry". More Disney images: the whole exchange between Messrs. Germer et al reminds me of nothing so much as a Disney cartoon, one of the ones where the two chipmunks, Chip and Dale, are pestering Donald Duck. Chip and Dale are always stealing Donald's apples, nesting in his slippers, or something equally "bad." Donald Duck always throws a truly spectacular tantrum. This, of course, delights Chip and Dale, and incites them to yet more outrages. Donald brings out the traps, the guns, the high explosives, and even more spectacular tantrums; and so it goes. The chipmunks usually win, of course, because Donald eventually succumbs to exhaustion. My mind has no trouble at all recasting the cartoons in modern times, with Chip and Dale playing to the jury while Donald raises objection after objection before the bench. So now you all know how I see this business. It's a pity that the participants can't see themselves through Disney's lens; of course, if they could then none of this would come to light. I don't know what went on between Mr. Germer and his antagonists; but I can see that both the pompous, self-righteous Donald Duck and the devil may care, hit him with an apple core and see him foam at the mouth chipmunks share the blame for what happens. When I hear children arguing, it amazes and amuses me that "I'll sue you" has replaced "I'll tell my father" as the ultimate threat. "Ma, he's looking at me!" "So sue him for harassment." I suspect that if you hear yourself talking like your children, you should think about what you're saying. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Backbone Echo Changes [May-Jun] by Lisa Gronke, 1:105/6 lisa@m2xenix.psg.com Summary of backbone & quasi-backbone echo changes during May & Jun. Brought to you courtesy of (unix) diff. diff (fidonet.na + fidonet.no) 30-Apr-95 (ditto) 02-Jul-95 [edited] Added to the backbone --------------------- > AAOS American Atheist Online Services Echo > ADAPTEK Adaptive Technology for the DisABLED FidoNews 12-28 Page: 7 10 Jul 1995 > ADEPTSOFT Adept > BARBIE Barbie Echo > BBSCON BBS Conventions Conference > BEAD-JEWEL Beading and Jewelry Making Discussion > BIBLE-STUDY BIBLE_STUDY > BOCA_MODEMS Discussion of Boca Modems > CB_RADIO General CB_RADIO discussion echo > CELERITY Celerity BBS Software Support Conference > CHILD_ABUSE_ISSUES Prevention, Detection, Legal Aspects, more > CONSCIOUSNESS The Consciousness Echo > CONSTITUTIONAL Constitution issues Federal & State > F_KNIGHT Chatter on the TV Show Forever Knight > MTG_TRADE MtG and other deckmaster-like card games > NON-FICTION Non-Fiction Writers' Conference > POGS Pog (milkcap game) discussion and trading echo > RACING_SIMS Racing Sims > REMOVE_BOB_SATTI *C's are not elected for life > REMOVE_GEORGE_PEACE *C's are not elected for life > SCN-CHEAT Computer game cheats - no cracks! > SPITFIRE_CHAT Global Spitfire BBS Chat Echo > STAMPS Stamp collectors discussion > STS (not in EchoList since 6/1/95) > THUNDERBYTE Thunderbyte Anti-Virus software support > TWINS DOUBLE TROUBLE Conference > USR_SPORTSTERS Technical Discussions of USR Sportster Modems > VOCAL Victims Of Child Abuse Legislation NOTE: BIBLE-STUDY was originally added as BIBLE_STUDY (underscore) but was later changed to BIBLE-STUDY (dash) because of an echotag conflict with a FamilyNet echo. Removed from the backbone or quasi-backbone ------------------------------------------- < EC_UTIL Ezycom Utilities Echo < FIDOBILL FIDOBILL Software Support Echo < GO_PROD_SUP Green/Ortiz Product Support Echo < LATINO (not in EchoList since 2/1/95) < PDREVIEW (not in EchoList since 2/1/95) < PEP TeleBit Modem & PEP Topics < RBBSPLUS_DEV RBBS development projects & ideas < REC_SUPPORT Remote Echo Control Software Support < STEP_PARENTS STEP_PARENTS < TRAPFAX Trapfax support < USS_LIBERTY USS Liberty Attack By Israeli Defense Forces < Z1_WINTERS Discusss Steve Winter Here o There are 782 echos in fidonet.na [02-Jul-95] (up 18) o There are 18 echos in fidonet.no [02-Jul-95] (down 2) o for a total of 800 backbone & quasi-backbone echos (up 16) FidoNews 12-28 Page: 8 10 Jul 1995 Simple NetwOrk Oversight Protocol From: Speaker to Fundies (1:102/890) The SNOOP project is nearly finished. I need two software engineers willing to form a small work group which will review the design and first implimentation and then take over the maintenance of the project. I also need a series of sites to perform Beta testing for SNOOP.EXE. If anyone is interested in being in the work group or being a Beta sites, please let me know. SNOOP is running on my system and appears to be working according to the first design specification set forth but it can't be released until it has been finished and tested. Information on the SNOOP project (which helps FidoNetters get an idea on the amount of Echo mail they never see) can be found by downloading SNOOP.DOC. Fredric L. Rice The Skeptic Tank 1:102/890.0 (818) 335-9601 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ======================================================================== Fidonews Information ======================================================================== ------- FIDONEWS MASTHEAD AND CONTACT INFORMATION ---------------- Editors: Donald Tees, Sylvia Maxwell Editors Emeritii: Thom Henderson, Dale Lovell, Vince Perriello, Tim Pozar Tom Jennings "FidoNews" BBS FidoNet 1:1/23 BBS +1-519-570-4176, 300/1200/2400/14400/V.32bis/HST(DS) more addresses: Don -- 1:221/192, don@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca Sylvia- 1:221/194, max@exlibris.tdkcs.waterloo.on.ca (Postal Service mailing address) FidoNews 128 Church St. Kitchener, Ontario Canada N2H 2S4 voice: (519) 570-3137 sylvia: (519) 579-8029 FidoNews 12-28 Page: 9 10 Jul 1995 Fidonews is published weekly by and for the members of the FIDONET INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR ELECTRONIC MAIL system. It is a compilation of individual articles contributed by their authors or their authorized agents. The contribution of articles to this compilation does not diminish the rights of the authors. Opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of FidoNews. Authors retain copyright on individual works; otherwise FidoNews is Copyright 1995 Donald Tees. All rights reserved. Duplication and/or distribution permitted for noncommercial purposes only. For use in other circumstances, please contact the original authors, or the eds. OBTAINING COPIES: The most recent issue of FidoNews in electronic form may be obtained from the FidoNews BBS via manual download or Wazoo FileRequest, or from various sites in the FidoNet and Internet. PRINTED COPIES may be obtained by sending SASE to the above paper-mail address. INTERNET USERS: FidoNews is available via FTP from ftp.fidonet.org, in directory ~ftp/pub/fidonet/fidonews. Anyone interested in getting a copy of the INTERNET GATEWAY FAQ may freq GISFAQ.ZIP from 1:133/411.0, or send an internet message to fidofaq@gisatl.fidonet.org. No message or text or subject is necessary. The address is a keyword that will trigger the automated response. People wishing to send inquiries directly to David Deitch should now mail to fidonet@gisatl.fidonet.org rather than the previously listed address. SUBMISSIONS: You are encouraged to submit articles for publication in FidoNews. Article submission requirements are contained in the file ARTSPEC.DOC, available from the FidoNews BBS, or Wazoo filerequestable from 1:1/23 as file "ARTSPEC.DOC". Please read it. "Fido", "FidoNet" and the dog-with-diskette are U.S. registered trademarks of Tom Jennings, and are used with permission. ' ' disgreement is actually necessary, or we'd all have to get in fights or semethin to amuse ourselves,, and create the requisite chaos." -Tom Jennings -- END ---------------------------------ooh---------------------------------- FidoNews 12-28 Page: 10 10 Jul 1995